Expandable wheel assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A wheel assembly for use with a toy vehicle comprising:
- an axle having a first end and a second end;
a first hub fixed to the axle proximate the first end;
a second hub supported by the axle and movable between the second end of the axle and the first hub, the second hub including a plurality of inwardly directed and substantially triangular-shaped points having means for maintaining coaxial alignment of the second hub and the axle; and
a plurality of webs spanning between and joined to the first hub and the second hub and each web having a central portion; and
wherein the axle, the first hub, the second and movable hub, and the webs are included in means for moving the central portions of the webs outward from the axle in response to centrifugal force induced by rotation of the wheel assembly.
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Abstract
An expandable wheel assemble for toy vehicles includes an axle, a first hub fixed to the axle, a second hub supported by the axle, and at least one web that spans between and is joined to the hubs, and has a central portion movable outwardly from the axle due to centrifugal force when the wheel assembly is rotated.
103 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A wheel assembly for use with a toy vehicle comprising:
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an axle having a first end and a second end; a first hub fixed to the axle proximate the first end; a second hub supported by the axle and movable between the second end of the axle and the first hub, the second hub including a plurality of inwardly directed and substantially triangular-shaped points having means for maintaining coaxial alignment of the second hub and the axle; and a plurality of webs spanning between and joined to the first hub and the second hub and each web having a central portion; and wherein the axle, the first hub, the second and movable hub, and the webs are included in means for moving the central portions of the webs outward from the axle in response to centrifugal force induced by rotation of the wheel assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A motorized toy vehicle comprising:
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a chassis; a drive mechanism carried by the chassis; an axle rotatably joined to the drive mechanism, the axle comprising a first end and a second end; a first hub fixed to the axle proximate the first end; a second hub supported by the axle and movable between the second end of the axle and the first hub, the second hub including a plurality of inwardly directed and substantially triangular-shaped points having means for maintaining coaxial alignment of the second hub and the axle; and a plurality of webs spanning between and joined to the first hub and the second hub, and each web having a central portion; wherein the axle, the first hub, the second and movable hub, and the webs are included in means for moving the central portions of the webs outward from the axle in response to centrifugal force induced by rotation of the axle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A toy vehicle having a wheel assembly comprising:
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an axle having a first end and a second end; a first hub fixed to the axle proximate the first end; a second hub supported by the axle; a web spanning between and joined to the first hub and the second hub and having a central portion; and means responsive to centrifugal force induced by rotation of the wheel assembly for moving the central portion of the web outward, the means responsive to centrifugal force including; a zone of additional mass proximate the central portion of the web; first and second spaced apart joint means for bending and defining a play surface contact zone therebetween; a traction pad joined to the central portion of the web; and means for sliding the second hub toward the first hub to accommodate outward movement of the central portion of the web.
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Specification