Wheel with folding segments
First Claim
1. A folding wheel having a rolling shape substantially corresponding to a circle with a wheel diameter and a center, the folding wheel comprising:
- a center wheel section encompassing the center and adapted to be mounted to an axle at the center, and having a first side substantially corresponding to a first chord of the circle and a second side opposite the first side and substantially corresponding to a second chord of the circle;
a first wheel segment pivotally attached to the center wheel section about a first pivot axis extending along the first side of the center wheel section;
a second wheel segment pivotally attached to the center wheel section about a second pivot axis extending along the second side of the center wheel section;
wherein the first and second wheel segments are movable from a rolling orientation, where outer edges of the first and second wheel segments are aligned with an outer edge of the center wheel section such that the folding wheel takes the rolling shape, to a folded orientation where the first and second wheel segments extend laterally away from the respective first and second pivot axes.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A circular folding wheel has a center wheel section encompassing the center of a circle and adapted to be mounted to an axle at the center, with a side substantially corresponding to a chord of the circle. A wheel segment is pivotally attached to the center wheel section about a pivot axis extending along the side of the center wheel section. The wheel segment is movable from a rolling orientation, where the outer edge of the wheel segment is aligned with an outer edge of the center wheel section such that the folding wheel takes a rolling circular shape, to a folded orientation where the wheel segment extends laterally away from the pivot axis. Two, three, or more wheel segments can be pivotally attached to corresponding sides of the center wheel section.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A folding wheel having a rolling shape substantially corresponding to a circle with a wheel diameter and a center, the folding wheel comprising:
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a center wheel section encompassing the center and adapted to be mounted to an axle at the center, and having a first side substantially corresponding to a first chord of the circle and a second side opposite the first side and substantially corresponding to a second chord of the circle; a first wheel segment pivotally attached to the center wheel section about a first pivot axis extending along the first side of the center wheel section; a second wheel segment pivotally attached to the center wheel section about a second pivot axis extending along the second side of the center wheel section; wherein the first and second wheel segments are movable from a rolling orientation, where outer edges of the first and second wheel segments are aligned with an outer edge of the center wheel section such that the folding wheel takes the rolling shape, to a folded orientation where the first and second wheel segments extend laterally away from the respective first and second pivot axes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A folding wheel having a rolling shape substantially corresponding to a circle with a wheel diameter and a center, the folding wheel comprising:
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a center wheel section encompassing the center and adapted to be mounted to an axle at the center, and having a side substantially corresponding to a chord of the circle; a wheel segment pivotally attached to the center wheel section about a pivot axis extending along the side of the center wheel section; wherein the wheel segment is movable from a rolling orientation, where an outer edge of the wheel segment is aligned with an outer edge of the center wheel section such that the folding wheel takes the rolling shape, to a folded orientation where the wheel segment extends laterally away from the pivot axis. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification