Patent ID: 6428114
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: B60B

Abstract:
A wheel comprising:a first wheel part comprising a first hub portion extending around the rotational axis of the wheel, a first rim portion extending around the first hub portion and extending around the rotational axis of the wheel, and a plurality of first spoke members connected between the first hub portion and the first rim portion; and a second wheel part comprising a second hub portion extending around the rotational axis of the wheel, a second rim portion extending around the second hub portion and extending around the rotational axis of the wheel, and a plurality of second spoke members connected between the second hub portion and the second rim portion, â€ƒwherein: the first and second wheel parts are substantially identical, the first and second rim portions are initially separate from one another and thereafter are connected substantially along a plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the wheel and together function as a rim of the wheel, the first and second hub portions are initially separate from one another and thereafter are connected substantially along the plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the wheel and together function as a hub of the wheel, the wheel is absent of any substantial connection between the first and second spoke members of the first and second wheel parts, each of the first spoke members includes an inner portion connected to the first hub portion, an outer portion connected to the first rim portion, and an intermediate portion positioned between the inner and outer portions and extending substantially the entire radial distance therebetween, each of the second spoke members includes an inner portion connected to the second hub portion, an outer portion connected to the second rim portion, and an intermediate portion positioned between the inner and outer portions of the second spoke member and extending substantially the entire radial distance therebetween, and after the first and second hub portions are connected to form the hub and the first and second rim portions are connected to form the rim: the spoke members are arranged in pairs, with each pair including one of the first spoke members and one of the second spoke members that are adjacent, and for each pair, the first and second spoke members together generally extend in a radial direction outward from the hub, and the entirety of the intermediate portion of the first spoke member is spaced apart from the entirety of the intermediate portion of the second spoke member, so that in a cross-section through the intermediate portions of the first and second spoke members, with the cross-section being perpendicular to the radial direction: each of the spoke members includes opposite ends, each of the ends is spaced apart from all of the other of the ends, a first pair of the ends extend toward one another but do not contact one another, and a second pair of the ends extend toward one another but do not contact one another, with the first pair of the ends including one of the ends of the first spoke member and one of the ends of the second spoke member, and the second pair of the ends including the other end of the first spoke member and the other end of the second spoke member, so that a hollow space is defined between the first and second spoke members.