A vehicle wheel includes two annular rim members, at least one annular flange member disposed between the two rim members, a securing member that secures relative positional relationship between adjacent members among the two rim members and the at least one flange member, a plurality of body springs that each connects adjacent members among the two rim members and the at least one flange member, and a plurality of linking springs linked to the plurality of body springs so as to restrict relative displacement between the plurality of body springs. At least part of each body spring in a width direction of the vehicle wheel protrudes further to an outer side in a radial direction of the vehicle wheel than the rim members and the flange member, and the plurality of body springs is provided at intervals over an entire circumferential direction of the vehicle wheel.

A fore-aft self-balancing personal transportation device having a single wheel structure with multiple air chambers and air pressure equalization between the air chambers. Embodiments include dual tires on a single rim structure, or a single tire structure with multiple lobes, etc. Air passage between the air chambers may be internal through the rim or external via an air hose or related structure. The air chambers may be tubed or tubeless. Several different embodiments are disclosed.

A tire removal tool for removing a tire from a dual wheel assembly has a handle having a gripping portion configured to be manually gripped, a head configured for introduction into the space between the wheels, and an intermediate portion connected between the handle and the head. The intermediate portion has a bent configuration so that the tool can extend over the outermost wheel with the head in contact with the inside of the wheel and the handle manually accessible at the outside of the wheel. The head includes an engagement surface arranged to simultaneously contact the sidewall of the innermost wheel to act as a fulcrum for transmitting an upward force applied to the handle to a force at the distal end of the head sufficient to dislodge the tire bead from the rim.

An air maintenance tire system and method in accordance with the present invention includes an air pumping mechanism configured to maintain air pressure within a first tire and a second tire in a dual tire arrangement. The system includes a control valve assembly attached to an elongate valve stem projecting from a rim of a first tandem tire, and a one-way valve carrying connecting tube from a sidewall air pumping passageway within a sidewall of the first tire. The control valve assembly further includes first and second outlet tubes connected to the elongate valve stem to selectively pass pressurized air into the tire cavities of both tandem mounted tires on an as-needed basis.

An air maintenance tire system and method in accordance with the present invention includes an air pumping mechanism configured to maintain air pressure within a first tire and a second tire in a dual tire arrangement. The system includes a control valve assembly attached to an elongate valve stem projecting from a rim of a first tandem tire, and a one-way valve carrying connecting tube from a sidewall air pumping passageway within a sidewall of the first tire. The control valve assembly further includes first and second outlet tubes connected to the elongate valve stem to selectively pass pressurized air into the tire cavities of both tandem mounted tires on an as-needed basis.

A vehicle wheel includes two annular rim members, at least one annular flange member disposed between the two rim members, a securing member that secures relative positional relationship between adjacent members among the two rim members and the at least one flange member, a plurality of body springs that each connects adjacent members among the two rim members and the at least one flange member, and a plurality of linking springs linked to the plurality of body springs so as to restrict relative displacement between the plurality of body springs. At least part of each body spring in a width direction of the vehicle wheel protrudes further to an outer side in a radial direction of the vehicle wheel than the rim members and the flange member, and the plurality of body springs is provided at intervals over an entire circumferential direction of the vehicle wheel.