Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/CA2889676C/en
Timestamp: 2020-05-29 02:22:13
Document Index: 437170816

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1800', 'art 1800', 'art 1800', 'art 1800', 'art 1800', 'art 1800', 'art 1800', 'art 1800']

CA2889676C - Collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels - Google Patents
CA2889676C
CA2889676C CA2889676A CA2889676A CA2889676C CA 2889676 C CA2889676 C CA 2889676C CA 2889676 A CA2889676 A CA 2889676A CA 2889676 A CA2889676 A CA 2889676A CA 2889676 C CA2889676 C CA 2889676C
CA2889676A
CA2889676A1 (en
2012-10-29 Priority to US61/719,634 priority
2013-10-25 Priority to PCT/US2013/066843 priority patent/WO2014070609A1/en
2014-05-08 Publication of CA2889676A1 publication Critical patent/CA2889676A1/en
2017-09-19 Publication of CA2889676C publication Critical patent/CA2889676C/en
9 PCT/US2013/066843 [0009] FIG. 6 is a partial front perspective view of the wheel of FIG. 1 shown in the expanded position.
[0018] FIGS. 21 and 22 show a wheel according to another embodiment in a collapsed position.
[0028] FIG. 41 shows perspective cross-sectional views of spokes of the wheel of FIG. 35.
[0030a] Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a wheel comprising: a plurality of wheel sections, each wheel section comprising a hub having a central bore and at least one spoke attached to the hub, the at least one spoke extending from the hub to a rim portion, the plurality of wheel sections configured to be rotatable relative to each other from a collapsed position to an expanded position about a rotational axis being generally coaxial with the central bores, wherein in the collapsed position each wheel section is radially spaced from an adjacent wheel section at a first angle, and wherein in the expanded position each wheel section is radially spaced from an adjacent wheel section at a second angle greater than the first angle, and wherein each rim portion is attached to at least one spoke in the collapsed position and in the expanded position.
[0030b] Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a cart for a golf club bag comprising: a frame configured to support a golf club bag; and a pair of wheels, each wheel comprising: a plurality of wheel sections, each wheel section comprising a hub having a central bore and at least one spoke attached to the hub, the at least one spoke extending from the hub to a rim portion, the plurality of wheel sections configured to be rotatable relative to each other from a collapsed position to an expanded position about a rotational axis being generally coaxial with the central bores, wherein in the collapsed position each wheel section is radially spaced from an adjacent wheel section at a first angle, and wherein in the expanded position each wheel section is radially spaced from an adjacent wheel section at a second angle greater than the first angle, and wherein each rim portion is attached to at least one spoke in the collapsed position and in the expanded position.
[0030c] Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method of manufacturing a wheel comprising: forming a plurality of wheel sections, a plurality of wheel sections, each wheel section comprising a hub having a central bore and at least one spoke attached to the hub, the at least one spoke extending from the hub to a rim portion, the plurality of wheel sections configured to be rotatable relative to each other from a collapsed position to an expanded position about a rotational axis being generally coaxial with the central bores, wherein in the collapsed position each wheel section is radially spaced from an adjacent wheel section at a first angle, and wherein in the expanded position each wheel section is radially spaced from an adjacent wheel section at a second angle greater than the first angle, and wherein each rim portion is attached to at least one spoke in the collapsed position and in the expanded position.
[0032] FIG. 1 shows the wheel 100 in an expanded position. To reduce the size of the wheel 100 for transportation and/or storage, an individual may collapse the wheel 100 to a collapsed position shown in FIG. 2. For example, a trunk of an automobile may not have sufficient space to accommodate a pull cart for golf clubs when the wheels 100 of the pull cart are in the expanded position. By placing the wheels 100 in the collapsed position, the pull cart and the wheels 100 may fit inside the trunk of the automobile for transportation. Accordingly, collapsing the wheels from an expanded position to a collapsed position allows the wheels and or any object to which the wheels are attached to occupy less space. Furthermore, as discussed in detail below, each wheel 100 may be removable from a pull cart to further reduce the space that may be occupied by the pull cart and the wheels 100.
[0034] Each wheel section 110 may be freely rotatable about the axle 106 to allow expansion of the wheel sections 110 from a collapsed position shown in FIG. 4 to an expanded position shown in FIG. 3. The number of wheel sections 110, the thickness of each wheel section 110, and/or the radial span of each wheel section 110 may be determined so that in the expanded position of the wheel 100, a full circular wheel, i.e., about 360 , is defined by the wheel 100 and the rims 118 provide sufficient support for the tire 104 for proper operation of the wheel 100. Providing sufficient support for the tire 104 at any instant during the operation of the wheel 100 may be defined by the number of contact points between the wheel 100 and the ground.
[0035] The radial span of each wheel section 110 may determine the radial position of each wheel section 110 relative to an adjacent wheel section 110 in the expanded position of the wheel 100 and the number of wheel sections 110 that may be needed. Radial span 119 as shown in FIG. 5 and as used herein may generally define a length of the rim 118 that contacts the ground during the operation of the wheel 100. For example, if each rim 118 of a pair of rims 118 of a wheel section 110 define a radial span of about 90 , only two wheel sections 110 may be required so that the rims 118 define a full circle or about 360 without generally any overlap or gap between two adjacent rims 118; or each rim 118 may generally define a 90 radial span on a full circle that defines the wheel 100. In other words, each wheel section 110 may generally define a 180 radial span on a full circle that defines the wheel. In another example, if each rim 118 of a pair of rims 118 of a wheel section 110 has a radial span 119 of about 45 , four wheel sections 110 may be required, i.e., eight rims 118, so that the rims 118 define a full circle or about 360 without generally any overlap or gap between two adjacent rims 118.
360 , - C. = R
[0040] FIG. 6 illustrates an expanded position of two wheel sections 110. The rim 118 of each wheel section 110 includes a radial projection 120. Referring to FIGS. 7-11, the tire 104 may include an inner surface 130 and an outer surface 132. The outer surface 132 may be smooth or have threads. The inner surface 130 may have any configuration to provide mounting of the tire 104 on the rims 118. In the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9, the inner surface 130 includes a plurality of generally parallel ribs 134 that define a plurality of generally parallel grooves 136 between the ribs 134. The ribs 134 and the grooves 136 may radially span a portion of the inner surface 130. In the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9, the ribs 134 and the grooves 136 span the entire 360 of the inner surface 130 of the tire 104.
Additionally, the cross-sectional shape of each groove 136 may generally correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the projections 120. Accordingly, when the tire 104 is mounted on the wheel sections 110, the projections 120 may engage the grooves 136 and generally fit within the grooves 136. The projections 120 and the grooves 136 may have any cross-sectional shape. In the example of FIG. 11, the projections 120 are shown to have a generally triangular cross-sectional shape and the grooves 136 are also shown to have a generally corresponding triangular cross-sectional shape. Furthermore, the size of the grooves 136 may generally correspond to the size of the projections 120. For a tire 104 that is constructed from an elastic material such as rubber, the grooves 136 may be alternatively formed to be smaller than the projections 120 so that the grooves 136 elastically expand when receiving the projections 120 to provide a generally formfitting engagement with the projections 120. The tire may be attached to one or more of the rims 118 such that the tire is maintained in a mounted configuration on the wheel 100 in both the collapsed and expanded positions of the wheel 100.
[0043] As described in detail above and with respect to equation (1), the expansion angle may be different depending on the configuration and/or properties of the wheel sections 110. To limit the expansion of the wheel sections 110 relative to each other and/or to provide positioning of the wheel sections 110 relative to each other at the expansion angle, the wheel 100 may include an expansion angle limiting mechanism by which rotation of each wheel section 110 relative to an adjacent wheel section 110 is limited to the expansion angle. According to one example shown in FIG. 12, the angle limiting mechanism includes a radial slot 140 on the hub section 112 of each wheel section 110 and a pin 144 that may be located on the hub section 112 opposite to the slot 142 relative to the central bore 114. The arc length of each radial slot 140 may be generally no greater than the expansion angle. In the example of FIG. 12, the arc length of the radial slot 140 is about 45 , which is the same as the expansion angle. When the wheel sections 110 are assembled as described in detail below, i.e., stacked on top of each other, the pin 144 of each wheel section 110 is placed inside the slot 140 of an adjacent wheel section 110.
Thus, the slot 140 limits rotation of the two adjacent wheel sections 110 relative to each other to the expansion angle or the radial arc length of the slot 140. The position of each slot 140 and pin 144 may be determined to allow expanding and collapsing of the wheel 100 as disclosed. In the example of FIG. 12, the first end 150 of the slots 140 is generally located along a center longitudinal axis 154 of the hub section 112. Accordingly, the second end 152 of the slot 140 is located about 45 from the first end 150. The pin 144 is also located on the center longitudinal axis 154, but is located opposite to the first end 150 of the slot 140 relative to the central bore 114. As described in detail below, the arrangement of the pin 144 and the slot 140 as shown in FIG. 12 provides for each wheel section 110 to be rotated relative to an adjacent wheel section by the expansion angle.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 18, the first mounted wheel section 110 may include two opposing handles 502 and 504 on the central hub section 112 that are position similar to the handles 202 and 204 of the hubcap 200. Accordingly, an individual can expand the wheel 400 from the collapsed position by holding the handles 202 and 204 with one hand and rotating the handles 202 and 204 in one direction and holding the handles 502 and 504 with the other hand and rotating the handles 502 and 504 in the opposite direction to rotate the wheel sections relative to each other to expand the wheel 400 to the expanded position. The handles 502 and 504 may be part of a hubcap (not shown) that is mounted on the axle 406 before the first mounted wheel section 110 is mounted on the axle 406. Alternatively as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the handles 502 and 504 may be an integral part of the first mounted wheel section 110.
[0055] The tire may be mounted on a plurality of rims 818 that are positioned along a perimeter of a circle 817 that defines a central plane of the wheel 800. Each rim 818 is generally oriented perpendicular to the circle 817 (shown in FIG. 24) and is convex relative to the hub sections 812.
[0057] To prevent further rotation of the hub sections 812 relative to each other when the wheel 800 reaches the expanded position shown in FIG. 23, the wheel 800 may include an expansion limiting mechanism as described above. Accordingly, each wheel section 810 may include a radial slot (not shown) on the hub section 812 and a pin (not shown) that may be located on the hub section 812 opposite to the slot relative to the central bore 814. The arc length of each radial slot 140 may be generally no greater than the expansion angle. In the example of FIGS. 24 the arc length of the radial slot is about 30 , which is the same as the expansion angle.
[0060] FIGS. 28 and 29 show a wheel 1200 according to another example. The wheel 1200 includes a plurality of wheel sections 1210, where each wheel section 1210 may have a different configuration as compared to one or more of the other wheel sections 1210. For example, each wheel section 1210 may have different shaped spokes 1216. The spokes 1216 may be straight, curved, L shaped, Z shaped and/or have any other shape that may be different from the spokes 1216 of one or more of the other wheel sections 1210. Depending on the shape of each spoke 1216, each spoke may have different thickness, may be constructed from a different material and/or have a certain property that may be different from or similar to one or more other spokes 1216 of one or more other wheel sections 1210. A tire 1204 may be mounted on the wheel 1200 in both the collapsed position in the expanded position of the wheel 1200.
[0062] FIGS. 32 and 33 show a wheel 1400 according to another example. The wheel 1400 includes a hub 1412 to which the rim 1418 is attached. The rim 1418 includes a first rim section 1420 and a second rim section 1422 that are pivotally mounted to the hub 1412 by one or more hinges 1424. As shown in FIG. 33, the first rim section 1420 and the second rim section 1422 can be pivoted at the hinge 1424 to collapse the wheel 1400 from the expanded position shown in FIG. 32 to a collapsed position (not shown). Thus, the size of the wheel 1400 may be reduced for storage and/or transportation upon collapsing the wheel from the expanded position.
[0067] FIGS. 35, 36 and 38 show the expanded position of the wheel 1600. The spokes 1616 are positioned on the hub sections 1612 such that when the wheel 1600 is in the expanded position, the spokes 1616 are evenly distributed around the wheel, i.e., radially equally spaced apart at a similar expansion angle. In the example of FIG. 35, the spokes 1616 are shown to be generally 30 apart in the expanded position of the wheel 1600. FIGS. 37, 39 and 40 show the collapsed position of the wheel 1600. To collapse the wheel 1600, the hub sections 1612 may be rotated relative to each other until the rims 1618 contact each other and prevent further rotation of the hub sections 1612. Each spoke 1616 may have a certain cross-sectional shape to provide a more compact collapsed position for the wheel 1600. For example, each spoke 1616 may have a diamond shaped cross-section as shown in FIG. 41. Accordingly, when the wheel 1600 is collapsed, each spoke 1616 may be positioned relative to an adjacent spoke 1616 in the complementary or a formfitting manner. Therefore, the spokes 1616 may collectively occupy less space as compared to a scenario where each spoke 1616 has a certain shape that does not lend itself to such complementary fitting with an adjacent spoke 1616.
[0068] To expand the wheel 1600, the hub sections 1612 may be rotated in an opposite direction relative to each other such that the wheel 1600 reaches the expanded position 1612. Because each spoke 1616 is located on a different hub section 1612, the wheel 1600 may require a rotation of less than 180 for expansion from the collapsed position to the expanded position as described in detail with respect to the wheel 800, hence not repeated herein.
Alternatively, the tire may be in the form of an inflatable tube that may be mounted on the rims 1618. Alternatively yet, the tire may be attached to one or more of the rims 1618 such that the tire is maintained in a mounted configuration on the wheel 1600 in both the collapsed and expanded positions of the wheel 1600.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 43, a golf pull cart 1800 for supporting and transporting a golf club bag is shown having wheels 100. Although the pull cart 1800 is shown with the wheels 100, any of the wheels described herein may be used with a golf pull cart. The golf pull cart 1800 may include a frame 1810 on which a golf club bag (not shown) may be rested. The golf club bag may also be supported by a bottom support 1812, a bottom side support 1813 and a top side support 1814. The frame 1810 may also include one or more straps (not shown) for securing a golf club bag to the frame 1810. The pull cart 1800 may further include two feet 1820 in 1822 that extend outwardly from the frame 1810 opposite to each other. Each foot supports a wheel 100. The frame may also include a hinge 1824 having two hinge rods 1826 and 1828 by which the feet 1820 in 1822 may be pivoted and collapsed so that the feet 1820 and 1822 extend along the frame 1810. The frame 1810 may also collapse at the hinge so as to provide a compact golf pull cart 1800 for transportation to and from a golf course, driving range or any golf related facility. A collapsed golf pull cart 1800 is shown in FIG. 44. To further reduce the size of the golf pull cart 1800, the wheels 100 may be collapsed as described in detail herein. Furthermore, the wheels 100 may be removed from the pull cart 1800 and stored separately.
[0075] While the invention has been described in connection with various aspects, it will be understood that the invention is capable of further modifications. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptation of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known and customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains.
a plurality of wheel sections, each wheel section comprising a hub having a central bore and at least one spoke attached to the hub, the at least one spoke extending from the hub to a rim portion, the plurality of wheel sections configured to be rotatable relative to each other from a collapsed position to an expanded position about a rotational axis being generally coaxial with the central bores, wherein in the collapsed position each wheel section is radially spaced from an adjacent wheel section at a first angle, and wherein in the expanded position each wheel section is radially spaced from an adjacent wheel section at a second angle greater than the first angle, and wherein each rim portion is attached to at least one spoke in the collapsed position and in the expanded position.
6. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the spokes of each pair of wheel sections extend from the hub of the corresponding wheel section to the same rim portion.
8. The wheel of claim 1, further comprising an axle configured to removably receive the hub of each wheel section by being insertable in the central bore of each wheel section, wherein each wheel section is rotational relative to the axle.
9. A cart for a golf club bag comprising:
a frame configured to support a golf club bag; and a pair of wheels, each wheel comprising:
10. The cart of claim 9, wherein each wheel section comprises a hub having a central bore and at least one spoke attached to the hub, the at least one spoke extending from the hub to a rim portion.
11. The cart of claim 9, wherein each wheel section comprises a hub having a central bore and at least one spoke attached to the hub, the at least one spoke extending from the hub to a rim portion, and wherein each wheel section comprises a tire configured to be mountable on the rim portions in the collapsed position or the expanded position.
12. The cart of claim 9, wherein each wheel section comprises a hub having a central bore and at least one spoke attached to the hub, the at least one spoke extending from the hub to a rim portion, and wherein each rim portion comprises a tire section.
13. The cart of claim 9, each wheel section comprising a radially configured slot and a pin configured to be received in the slot of another wheel section, wherein movement of the pin of one wheel section inside the slot of an adjacent wheel section defines a range of rotation of the one wheel section relative to the adjacent wheel section.
14. The cart of claim 9, wherein each wheel section comprises a hub having a central bore and at least one spoke attached to the hub, the at least one spoke extending from the hub to a rim portion, and wherein the spokes of each pair of wheel sections extend from the hub of the corresponding wheel section to the same rim portion.
15. The cart of claim 9, wherein each wheel section comprises a hub having a central bore and at least one spoke attached to the hub, the at least one spoke extending from the hub to a rim portion, and wherein the rim portions substantially define a path on a circumferential band around the wheel sections in the expanded position.
16. A method of manufacturing a wheel comprising:
forming a plurality of wheel sections, a plurality of wheel sections, each wheel section comprising a hub having a central bore and at least one spoke attached to the hub, the at least one spoke extending from the hub to a rim portion, the plurality of wheel sections configured to be rotatable relative to each other from a collapsed position to an expanded position about a rotational axis being generally coaxial with the central bores, wherein in the collapsed position each wheel section is radially spaced from an adjacent wheel section at a first angle, and wherein in the expanded position each wheel section is radially spaced from an adjacent wheel section at a second angle greater than the first angle, and wherein each rim portion is attached to at least one spoke in the collapsed position and in the expanded position.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming a locking mechanism configured to substantially fix the wheel sections from rotating relative to each other in the expanded position.
18. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming a tire configured to be mountable on the rim portions in the collapsed position or the expanded position.
19. The method of claim 16, forming tire section on each rim portion.
20. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming a radially configured slot and a pin on each wheel section, the pin configured to be received in the slot of another wheel section, wherein movement of the pin of one wheel section inside the slot of an adjacent wheel section defines a range of rotation of the one wheel section relative to the adjacent wheel section.
21. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming the plurality of wheel section such that the spokes of two wheel sections extend from the hub of the corresponding wheel sections to the same rim portion.
22. The method of claim 16, wherein the rim portions substantially define a path on a circumferential band around the wheel sections in the expanded position.
CA2889676A 2012-10-29 2013-10-25 Collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels Active CA2889676C (en)
US61/719,634 2012-10-29
PCT/US2013/066843 WO2014070609A1 (en) 2012-10-29 2013-10-25 Collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels
CA2976069A CA2976069C (en) 2012-10-29 2013-10-25 Collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels
CA2889676A1 CA2889676A1 (en) 2014-05-08
CA2889676C true CA2889676C (en) 2017-09-19
CN (2) CN107364280B (en)
RU (2) RU2602902C1 (en)
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