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. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim and permitting relative movement therebetween. The wheel assembly may also include a rigid inboard cover ring coupled to an inboard side of the outer rim and extending radially inward toward the inner rim. A flexible inboard seal may be coupled between the rigid inboard cover ring and the inner rim.

A wheel that deforms to absorb force is provided. The wheel includes one or more deformable spokes that extend from a central portion of the wheel to an outer portion of the wheel. The spokes are configured to interface against neighboring spokes after a spoke is sufficiently deformed. The neighboring spoke provides some support to the deformed spoke, thereby requiring an increased marginal force to further deform the first spoke. In one embodiment the wheel includes a plurality of pairs of spokes that are configured to interface against each other.

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 said inner rim and said outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include hydraulic dampers operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim.

A wheel with flexible spokes, including a rim and hub, and spokes between the rim and hub made of fibrous material that causes the spokes to be both lighter in weight and stronger than comparable steel spokes. The spokes are also flexible and resilient such that they can bend while retaining their integrity and strength.

A non-pneumatic wheel possessing spokes having a compliant shear block providing spoke tension.

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

A wheel assembly includes a hub for attachment to a rotatable axle, a plurality of first friction plates each engaging a first surface of one part of a plurality of parts of a tire assembly, a plurality of second friction plates each engaging a second surface of the one part of a plurality of parts of a tire assembly, the second surface being radially opposite the first surface, and a plurality of radial cable members each connecting the hub to the tire assembly such that each radial cable member extends radially away from the hub, bends circumferentially adjacent a corresponding second friction plate, bends radially outward and back circumferentially adjacent a corresponding first friction plate, and radially inward to a first point of intersection with the same radial cable member.

A spoked wheel structure for a vehicle includes a wheel rim having a channel for accommodating a tire, a wheel hub adapted to be rotatably mounted with respect to the vehicle, and a plurality of wheel spokes mounted interposed and tightened between the wheel hub and the wheel rim, wherein each wheel spoke includes an elongated spoke stem and an enlarged spoke head. The wheel rim includes a plurality of spoke engaging seats being configured to receive and retain a respective spoke. Each spoke seat includes a through hole including a first hole portion, a second hole portion, and a hole retaining surface configured to abuttingly retain the enlarged spoke head when the respective spoke is tightened between the wheel rim and the wheel hub. The wheel structure also includes safety elements engageable in the spoke seats to press each enlarged spoke head against the respective hole retaining surface.

A wheel assembly includes a hub for attachment to a rotatable axle, a plurality of first friction plates each engaging a first surface of one part of a plurality of parts of a tire assembly, a plurality of second friction plates each engaging a second surface of the one part of a plurality of parts of a tire assembly, the second surface being radially opposite the first surface, and a plurality of radial cable members each connecting the hub to the tire assembly such that each radial cable member extends radially away from the hub, bends circumferentially adjacent a corresponding second friction plate, bends radially outward and back circumferentially adjacent a corresponding first friction plate, and radially inward to a first point of intersection with the same radial cable member.

A wheel and tire assembly for a mobile vehicle in accordance with the present invention includes an inner central rim, a flexible ring mounted on the inner central rim, and a spoke structure extending between the inner central rim and the flexible ring. The spoke structure defines a plurality of cavities and alternating radially extending openings disposed concentrically about the inner central rim and allowing the flexible ring to deflect under load. The spoke structure further defines a plurality of triangular openings disposed at the flexible ring and between the cavities and the inlet openings.