A dual wheel assembly comprising a hub body that includes a central hub having a plurality of apertures to connect to bolts of a vehicle. The hub body includes a tire rim integrated with the central hub and having an outboard flange, an inboard flange and a drop center between the outboard flange and the inboard flange. The hub body includes a rail wheel integrated with at least one of the central hub and tire rim. The embodiments further include a triple wheel assembly and a vehicle with at least one of the dual wheel assembly and the triple wheel assembly.

A transformable wheel assembly includes a spoke frame and a central gear coupled to the spoke frame. A plurality of legs are pivotably coupled to the spoke frame. The plurality of legs include an arcuate outer surface and an arcuate distal interior edge. A plurality of leg teeth are formed on the arcuate distal interior edge. The leg teeth engage the central gear such that the central gear drives the plurality of legs between a closed position and an open position based on a direction of rotation of the central gear.

A coupling mechanism is provided for coupling a supporting element to a frame, and includes a base member and a C-shaped retainer. The frame includes a frame body and a leg member that has a leg body extending downwardly from the frame body to terminate at an enlarged leg end. The base member defines therein a recess for the enlarged leg end therein. The supporting element is coupled to a lower major surface of the base wall. The C-shaped retainer extends to be disposed about the leg body, and is configured to be detachably coupled to a surrounding wall of the base member for retaining the enlarged leg end in the recess.

Embodiments of collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

A dual mode vehicle that operates on guided rails and roadways includes a capsule, a carriage, a front left drive system, a front right drive system, a rear left drive system, a rear right drive system, a pod control unit, and at least one battery. The carriage includes a spherical frame-housing and a base. A spherical cabin of the capsule is attitudinally mounted within the spherical frame-housing. The front left drive system, the front right drive system, the rear left drive system, and the rear right drive system each includes a motor, a drive axle, a road wheel, and a rail wheel. The road wheel and the rail wheel are axially mounted to the drive axle. The motor that is mounted to the base is operatively coupled with the drive axle through the at least one battery and the pod control unit to operate a roadway or railway transportation mode.

A vehicle includes a frame including a front frame part and a rear frame part. A single front wheel is rotatably connected to the front frame part. A single rear wheel is rotatably connected to the rear frame part. Each of the front wheel and the rear wheel is adapted to have a cylindrical shape in top view when the vehicle is traveling in a straight direction, and at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel is adapted to expand and have a frustoconical shape in top view in a turning condition of the vehicle.

A wheel includes a supporting frame, with a central portion having a center around which the wheel can turn, and a plurality of radial portions extending from the central portion angularly displaced with each other. A housing seat is delimited between two adjacent radial portions. A movable element is radially displaceable between a first working position located at a maximum distance with respect to the center, and a second working position located at a minimum distance with respect to the center of the central portion. The radial portions and the movable element have respective distal sections, with respect to the center, curved with a curvature radius corresponding to the curvature radius of the wheel and being flush with each other. A locking element is displaceable between one locking position, wherein it abuts on the movable element and prevents the radial displacement thereof, and one unlocking position, wherein it allows the radial displacement of the movable element toward the second working position. A returning element of the movable element between the supporting frame and the movable element is configured to bring the movable element back into the first working position. A band made of an elastically deformable material surrounds the distal sections of the plurality of radial portions and the movable element, at the circular perimeter of the wheel.

Embodiments of collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

A personal transportation device comprises a frame, a wheel pivotably connected to a frame and switchable between a driving configuration and a flying configuration, a motor to rotate the wheel; and an automatic cruise module. The automatic cruise module is configured to control the wheel and guide the personal transportation device to fly from a first location to a second location according to a designated route as an unmanned aircraft.

A personal transportation device comprises a frame, a wheel pivotably connected to a frame and switchable between a driving configuration and a flying configuration, a motor to rotate the wheel; and an automatic cruise module. The automatic cruise module is configured to control the wheel and guide the personal transportation device to fly from a first location to a second location according to a designated route as an unmanned aircraft.