Wheel

Abstract

A wheel comprising a hub and a tire. The hub has an outer tire receiving portion having a largest width smaller than a largest width of the tire. The hub and tire can also include a continuous interface surface.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A wheel comprising:
 a hub having an inner portion having an axial opening, an outer tire receiving portion, and a spanning section extending between the inner portion and the outer tire receiving portion;   the outer tire receiving portion being located radially outward of the inner portion and the spanning section of the hub, the outer tire receiving portion having an outer radially facing surface facing substantially radially outward; and   a tire connected to the outer tire receiving portion of the hub and abutting the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion;   the outer tire receiving portion having a largest width smaller than a largest width of the inner portion of the hub and smaller than a largest width of the tire, with all of the widths being measured in an axial direction.   
     
     
         2 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner portion of the hub is configured to receive at least one bearing within the axial opening for allowing the wheel to rotate.   
     
     
         3 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner portion of the hub is configured to receive a pair of roller bearing assemblies within the axial opening for allowing the wheel to rotate.   
     
     
         4 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the axial opening extends entirely through the inner portion of the hub.   
     
     
         5 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the spanning section comprises a plurality of spokes extending radially between the inner portion and the outer tire receiving portion.   
     
     
         6 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tire is comprised of polyurethane.   
     
     
         7 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub includes a center portion and a pair of outer curved end edge areas, with the center portion being connected to and extending between the pair of outer curved end edge areas.   
     
     
         8 . The wheel of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the center portion of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub is uninterrupted.   
     
     
         9 . The wheel of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the center portion of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub is interrupted and includes a ring channel for receiving a portion of the tire therein.   
     
     
         10 . The wheel of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the center portion of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub is substantially flat.   
     
     
         11 . The wheel of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the outer tire receiving portion includes a pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces, each disc surface intersecting one of the pair of outer curved end edge areas of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub, each of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces tapering radially inward such that a first distance between radially inner regions of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces is smaller than a second distance between radially outer regions of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces.   
     
     
         12 . The wheel of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the tire has a U-shaped radially facing outer surface and a curved tire surface portion at each end of the U-shaped radially facing outer surface, with each curved tire surface portion abutting an intersection of one of the pair of outer curved end edge areas of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub and one of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces of the hub, with each curved tire surface portion forming a continuous surface with one of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces of the hub.   
     
     
         13 . A wheel comprising:
 a hub having an inner portion having an axial opening, an outer tire receiving portion, and a spanning section extending between the inner portion and the outer tire receiving portion;   the outer tire receiving portion being located radially outward of the inner portion and the spanning section of the hub, the outer tire receiving portion having an outer radially facing surface facing substantially radially outward; and   a tire connected to the outer tire receiving portion of the hub and abutting the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion;   the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub including a center portion and a pair of outer curved end edge areas, with the center portion being connected to and extending between the pair of outer curved end edge areas;   the outer tire receiving portion including a pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces, each disc surface intersecting one of the pair of outer curved end edge areas of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub, each of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces tapering radially inward such that a first distance between radially inner regions of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces is smaller than a second distance between radially outer regions of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces; and   the tire having a U-shaped radially facing outer surface and a curved tire surface portion at each end of the U-shaped radially facing outer surface, with each curved tire surface portion abutting an intersection of one of the outer curved end edge areas of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub and one of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces of the hub, with each curved tire surface portion forming a continuous surface with one of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces of the hub.   
     
     
         14 . The wheel of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the inner portion of the hub is configured to receive at least one bearing within the axial opening for allowing the wheel to rotate.   
     
     
         15 . The wheel of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the inner portion of the hub is configured to receive a pair of roller bearing assemblies within the axial opening for allowing the wheel to rotate.   
     
     
         16 . The wheel of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the axial opening extends entirely through the inner portion of the hub.   
     
     
         17 . The wheel of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the spanning section comprises a plurality of spokes extending radially between the inner portion and the outer tire receiving portion.   
     
     
         18 . The wheel of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the tire is comprised of polyurethane.   
     
     
         19 . The wheel of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the center portion of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub is uninterrupted.   
     
     
         20 . The wheel of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the center portion of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub is interrupted and includes a ring channel for receiving a portion of the tire therein.   
     
     
         21 . The wheel of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the center portion of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub is substantially flat.   
     
     
         22 . A scooter wheel comprising:
 a hub having an inner portion having an axial opening extending therethrough and configured to receive a pair of roller bearing assemblies therein, an outer tire receiving portion, and a plurality of spokes extending between the inner portion and the outer tire receiving portion;   the outer tire receiving portion being located radially outward of the inner portion and the spokes of the hub, the outer tire receiving portion having an outer radially facing surface facing substantially radially outward; and   a polyurethane tire connected to the outer tire receiving portion of the hub and abutting the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion;   the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub including a center portion and a pair of outer curved end edge areas, with the center portion being connected to and extending between the pair of outer curved end edge areas;   the outer tire receiving portion including a pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces, each disc surface intersecting one of the pair of outer curved end edge areas of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub, each of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces tapering radially inward such that a first distance between radially inner regions of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces is smaller than a second distance between radially outer regions of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces;   the polyurethane tire having a U-shaped radially, facing outer surface and a curved tire surface portion at each end of the U-shaped radially facing outer surface, with each curved tire surface portion abutting an intersection of one of the pair of the outer curved end edge areas of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub and one of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces of the hub, with each curved tire surface portion forming a continuous surface with one of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces of the hub; and   the outer tire receiving portion having a largest width smaller than a largest width of the inner portion of the hub and smaller than a largest width of the tire, with all of the widths being measured in an axial direction.   
     
     
         23 . A wheel comprising:
 a hub having an inner portion having an axial opening, an outer tire receiving portion, and a spanning section extending between the inner portion and the outer tire receiving portion;   the outer tire receiving portion being located radially outward of the inner portion and the spanning section of the hub, the outer tire receiving portion having an outer radially facing surface facing substantially radially outward; and   a non-inflatable tire connected to the outer tire receiving portion of the hub and abutting the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion;   the outer tire receiving portion having a largest width smaller than a largest width of the non-inflatable tire, with all of the widths being measured in an axial direction.   
     
     
         24 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the axial opening extends entirely through the inner portion of the hub.   
     
     
         25 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the spanning section comprises a plurality of spokes extending radially between the inner portion and the outer tire receiving portion.   
     
     
         26 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the non-inflatable tire is comprised of polyurethane.   
     
     
         27 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub includes a center portion and a pair of outer curved end edge areas, with the center portion being connected to and extending between the pair of outer curved end edge areas.   
     
     
         28 . The wheel of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the center portion of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub is uninterrupted.   
     
     
         29 . The wheel of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the center portion of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub is interrupted and includes a ring channel for receiving a portion of the non-inflatable tire therein.   
     
     
         30 . The wheel of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the center portion of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub is substantially flat.   
     
     
         31 . The wheel of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the outer tire receiving portion includes a pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces, each disc surface intersecting one of the pair of outer curved end edge areas of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub, each of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces tapering radially inward such that a first distance between radially inner regions of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces is smaller than a second distance between radially outer regions of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces.   
     
     
         32 . The wheel of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the non-inflatable tire has a U-shaped radially facing outer surface and a curved tire surface portion at each end of the U-shaped radially facing outer surface, with each curved tire surface portion abutting an intersection of one of the pair of outer curved end edge areas of the outer radially facing surface of the outer tire receiving portion of the hub and one of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces of the hub, with each curved tire surface portion forming a continuous surface with one of the pair of oppositely axially facing disc surfaces of the hub.