Patent ID: 7669679

Claim:
A wheel assembly for a vehicle, the wheel assembly comprising: a rim; a tire operatively connected to the rim, the tire having a portion in contact with a surface upon which the vehicle travels; one or more movable assemblies extending in a radial direction from the rim towards an outer portion of the tire; and potential energy storage means operatively connected to the one or more movable assemblies for converting a kinetic energy of the vehicle into potential energy upon movement of the one or more movable assemblies due to contact of the one or more movable assemblies with the surface through the portion of the tire, thereby slowing a rotation of the wheel assembly; wherein the potential energy storage means comprises: one or more spring elements operatively connected to the one or more movable assemblies such that movement of the one or more movable assemblies deforms the one or more spring elements to store potential energy therein; and one or more braking elements for maintaining the one or more spring elements in their deformed state such that the stored potential energy in the one or more spring elements is not substantially transferred back to the vehicle.