A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. The wheel assembly may include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim and tread assemblies carried by the outer rim.

A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension for relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include a disk coupled to the inner rim and defining a closeable gap with adjacent interior portions of the outer rim to define a mechanical stop to limit relative movement of the inner rim and outer rim.

A wheel assembly may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. Gas springs may be operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim and permitting relative movement therebetween. The wheel assembly may also include a sensor configured to sense the relative movement between the inner and outer rims.

A wheel assembly comprising a rigid wheel including a radially outer rim wall presenting a polygonal shape with a plurality of outermost vertices connecting a plurality of planar faces, and a flexible tire mounted on the outer rim wall. The tire is supported by the vertices of the rim wall and is separated from the rim faces by a space, portions of the tire located between the vertices being configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure.

A wheel assembly comprising a rigid wheel including a radially outer rim wall presenting a polygonal shape with a plurality of outermost vertices connecting a plurality of planar faces, and a flexible tire mounted on the outer rim wall. The tire is supported by the vertices of the rim wall and is separated from the rim faces by a space, portions of the tire located between the vertices being configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure.

Segmented wheels offer advantages in storage space of closely packed segments as compared to whole wheels. Individually damaged or worn segments may be replaced in the field with little or no need for jacks or cranes to support the rest of the vehicle, and entire wheels may be replaced or reconfigured from one tread type to another by swapping out segments not in contact with the ground and then driving the vehicle a distance which is a fraction of the circumference of its wheels to expose the remaining segments for retrofit. Segments may be freely supported by rigid or compliant spokes or may be bound together by straps or designed to interlock with adjacent segments. Embodiments of the invention may be made in any size range including applications for bicycles, agricultural machinery, cars, trucks and mining machinery and vehicles.

Segmented wheels offer advantages in storage space of closely packed segments as compared to whole wheels. Individually damaged or worn segments may be replaced in the field with little or no need for jacks or cranes to support the rest of the vehicle, and entire wheels may be replaced or reconfigured from one tread type to another by swapping out segments not in contact with the ground and then driving the vehicle a distance which is a fraction of the circumference of its wheels to expose the remaining segments for retrofit. Segments may be freely supported by rigid or compliant spokes or may be bound together by straps or designed to interlock with adjacent segments. Embodiments of the invention may be made in any size range including applications for bicycles, agricultural machinery, cars, trucks and mining machinery and vehicles.

Embodiments of collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels are generally described herein. The collapsible wheels can each comprise a plurality of wheel sections, a plurality of rims, and spokes connecting the plurality of wheel sections to the plurality of rim portions. The plurality of rim portions are positioned along a perimeter of a circle that defines a central plane of the wheel. Each wheel section supports one or more spokes that connect to one or more of the rim portions. The wheel sections are rotatable relative to each other around an axis from a collapsed configuration to an expanded position. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Embodiments of collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels are generally described herein. The collapsible wheels can each comprise a plurality of wheel sections, a plurality of rims, and spokes connecting the plurality of wheel sections to the plurality of rim portions. The plurality of rim portions are positioned along a perimeter of a circle that defines a central plane of the wheel. Each wheel section supports one or more spokes that connect to one or more of the rim portions. The wheel sections are rotatable relative to each other around an axis from a collapsed configuration to an expanded position. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

A collapsible wheel having a plurality of wheel sections. Each wheel section has at least a rim portion, a hub portion defining a rotational axis, and a pair of spokes. Each wheel section supports one or more spokes that extend from the hub portion and connect to one or more of the rim portions. The wheel sections rotate relative to each other about the rotational axis from a collapsed configuration to an expanded position, defining a central plane of the wheel. The rim portions are oriented generally perpendicular to the central plane.