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

A non-pneumatic tire includes a wheel hub portion, a tread ring portion, and a plurality of flexible spokes extending between and coupled to the wheel hub portion and the tread ring portion. A hollow core is positioned between adjacent flexible spokes or formed within each flexible spoke. The plurality of flexible spokes are configured to cyclically move between a narrow position to a wide position when the non-pneumatic tire is attached to a vehicle and is rolling on a road surface such that the plurality of flexible spokes act as a bellows that pumps air from one side of the non-pneumatic tire to another side of the non-pneumatic tire.

A non-pneumatic tire includes a wheel portion, a tread ring portion, a plurality of flexible spokes extending between and attached to the wheel portion and the tread ring portion, and plurality of bump stops positioned between the wheel portion and the tread ring portion. The bumps stops are configured to limit deformation and/or compressive strain of the plurality of flexible spokes. The plurality of bump stops includes a plurality of tower bump stops, a plurality of triangular-shaped bump stops, and/or a plurality of roof-top shaped bump stops.

This disclosure concerns wheels for industrial vehicles, including scissor lift vehicles and aerial platform vehicles. More particularly, this disclosure concerns a wheel fabricated with a substantially cylindrical wheel rim and a front face surface which includes a center hub section that is inwardly offset from the front edge by an amount and at an angle providing flexibility to recover from incidences that can damage the wheel.

A wheel with high strength flexible spokes of the present invention, 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. The wheel includes a nipple within the rim that receives the high strength spoke and allows for flexibility in adapting the spoke to wheels having differing shapes and sizes.

A method for manufacturing a wheel hub (300) for a non-pneumatic wheel (100). A sheet (332) of material may be folded, cut, bent, and otherwise processed to form portions of the desired wheel hub(300). The wheel hub (300) may be connected with an annular band (108) through load supporting members (106) that can be selectively connected and disconnected from the hub (300).

A three-layer soft rubber shock absorbing wheel including a hub. An outer surface of the hub is bonded with a hard body, a first layer of tread and a second layer of tread having a hardness lower than that of the first layer of tread. The hard body, the first layer of tread, and the second layer of tread are arranged from inside to outside in sequence. The second layer of tread is bonded in a concave surface portion on an outer surface of the first layer of tread. The first layer of tread and the second layer of tread are both elastic bodies. The hard body is configured to have an I-shaped structure body. The three-layer soft rubber shock absorbing wheel is a wheel body made by bonding three layers of materials with different hardness.

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.

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

A wheel includes a main hub portion having outer and inner portions, the inner portion being spaced from the outer portion by a main hub sidewall; a ring portion configured to engage the main hub portion so as to enclose the outer portion and the inner portion and create an enclosed void; and an exterior covering surrounding at least part of the main hub portion and the ring portion at the enclosed void. A method of forming a wheel includes forming a main hub portion having an outer portion and an inner portion; forming a ring portion configured to engage the main hub portion so as to enclose the outer portion and the inner portion and create an enclosed void; assembling the main hub portion and the ring portion into an assembled hub; and overmolding an exterior covering surrounding at least part of the main hub and ring portions.