Various exemplary embodiments are provided of wheel assemblies and tires. In one exemplary embodiment, a wheel assembly generally includes first and second wheel pieces attachable to each other. The first and second wheel pieces may include respective first and second rim portions. Each of the first
Various exemplary embodiments are provided of wheel assemblies and tires. In one exemplary embodiment, a wheel assembly generally includes first and second wheel pieces attachable to each other. The first and second wheel pieces may include respective first and second rim portions. Each of the first and second rim portions may include an arced portion that defines only a portion of a circumference of a rim, such that the arced portions collectively define the circumference of the rim when the first and second wheel pieces are attached. The first and second wheel pieces may be slidably engagable in a first axial direction that is substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the wheel assembly. The first and second wheel pieces may be slidably disengagable in a second axial direction that is generally opposite the first axial direction.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A wheel assembly comprising: first and second wheel pieces releasably attachable to each other, the first and second wheel pieces being slidably engagable in a first axial direction substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the wheel assembly, the first and second wheel
What is claimed is: 1. A wheel assembly comprising: first and second wheel pieces releasably attachable to each other, the first and second wheel pieces being slidably engagable in a first axial direction substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the wheel assembly, the first and second wheel pieces being slidably disengagable in a second axial direction generally opposite the first axial direction; the first and second wheel pieces including respective first and second tire locking tabs and respective first and second rim portions that cooperatively define a rim when the first and second wheel pieces are slidably engaged, each of the first and second wheel pieces including a protrusion extending circumferentially along their respective first and second rim portions; and a tire including: an outer surface portion; an inner surface portion configured for positioning relatively against the rim; an internal chamber complementary in shape to the first and second wheel pieces' protrusions for engagingly receiving the first and second wheel pieces' protrusions therein: and an opening along the tire's inner surface portion for allowing the first and second wheel pieces' protrusions to be engagingly received within the internal chamber; first and second lateral internal chambers disposed such that the internal chamber is generally between the first and second lateral internal chambers; first and second openings for receiving at least an end portion of the respective first and second tire locking tabs in the respective first and second lateral internal chambers; and free end portions: wherein the first and second tire locking tabs retain the tire's free end portions to the rim; and whereby the engagement of the first and second wheel pieces'protrusions with the internal chamber of the tire helps retain the positioning of the tire relative to the rim; and whereby the first and second tire locking tabs are operable for applying a compressive clamping force to the tire for urging corresponding portions of the tire towards the first and second wheel pieces' protrusions, to thereby help retain the positioning of the tire relative to the first and second wheel pieces' protrusions. 2. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the first wheel piece includes at least one slot extending in the first axial direction; and wherein the second wheel piece includes at least one engagement member complementary in shape to and slidably receivable within the corresponding slot. 3. The wheel assembly of claim 2, further comprising a mounting hub adjacent the at least one slot and at least one engagement member. 4. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the first wheel piece includes at least one T-shaped slot extending in the first axial direction; and wherein the second wheel piece includes at least one T-shaped engagement member slidably receivable within the corresponding slot. 5. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the first wheel piece includes a substantial entirety of a mounting hub for the wheel assembly. 6. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second wheel piece's protrusions have a generally arrowhead shape, and wherein the internal chamber within the tire is complementary in shape to the generally arrowhead shape of the first and second wheel pieces' protrusions. 7. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the opening extends circumferentially along the substantial entirety of the inner surface portion of the tire, and wherein the protrusions extend circumferentially along the substantial entirety of the corresponding first and second rim portions. 8. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second rim portions include an arced portion defining only a portion of a circumference of the rim, whereby the arced portions collectively define the circumference of the rim when the first and second wheel pieces are attached. 9. The wheel assembly of claim 8, wherein the arced portions of the first and second rim portions are each generally semi-circular such that each arced portion defines about half of the rim's circumference. 10. A wheel assembly comprising: a rim; a protrusion extending circumferentially along at least a portion of the rim; a tire having inner and outer surface portions, an internal chamber complementary in shape to the protrusion for engagingly receiving the protrusion therein, and an opening along at least a portion of the tire's inner surface portion for allowing the protrusion to be engagingly received within the internal chamber; whereby engagement of the protrusion with the internal chamber helps retain the positioning of the tire relative to the protrusion first and second tire locking tabs, whereby the first and second tire locking tabs are operable for helping retain the positioning of the tire relative to the rim; wherein at least one of the first and second tire locking tabs is connected to the rim by a living hinge integrally defined along a bottom portion of the at least one of the first and second tire locking tabs, whereby the living hinge allows the at least one of the first and second tire locking tabs to hingedly move relative to the rim. 11. The wheel assembly of claim 10, wherein the protrusion has a generally arrowhead shape, and wherein the internal chamber is complementary in shape to the generally arrowhead shape of the protrusion. 12. The wheel assembly of claim 10, wherein the opening extends circumferentially along the substantial entirety of the inner surface portion of the tire, and wherein the protrusion extends circumferentially along the substantial entirety of the rim. 13. The wheel assembly of claim 10, wherein the tire further includes first and second lateral internal chambers disposed such that the internal chamber is generally between the first and second lateral internal chambers, and first and second openings for receiving at least an end portion of the respective first and second tire locking tabs in the respective first and second lateral internal chambers, whereby the first and second tire locking tabs are operable for applying a compressive clamping force to the tire for urging corresponding portions of the tire towards the protrusion, to thereby help retain the positioning of the tire relative to the protrusion. 14. The wheel assembly of claim 10, wherein the wheel assembly includes first and second wheel pieces attachable to each other, wherein the first and second wheel pieces including respective first and second rim portions that cooperatively define the rim and the protrusion when the first and second wheel pieces are attached to each other, and wherein each of the first and second rim portions include an arced portion defining only a portion of a circumference of the rim, whereby the arced portions collectively define the circumference of the rim when the first and second wheel pieces are attached. 15. The wheel assembly of claim 14, wherein the arced portions of the first and second rim portions are each generally semi-circular such that each arced portion defines about half of the rim's circumference. 16. The wheel assembly of claim 14, wherein the first wheel piece includes a substantial entirety of a mounting hub for the wheel assembly. 17. A wheel assembly comprising: a rim; first and second tire locking tabs; a tire having inner and outer surface portions, first and second internal chambers and first and second openings for receiving at least an end portion of the respective first and second tire locking tabs in the first and second internal chambers; first and second wheel pieces attachable to each other, the first and second wheel pieces including respective first and second rim portions that cooperatively define the rim and a protrusion when the first and second wheel pieces are attached to each other, and wherein each of the first and second rim portions include an arced portion defining only a portion of a circumference of the rim, whereby the arced portions collectively define the circumference of the rim when the first and second wheel pieces are attached; wherein the first wheel piece includes a substantial entirety of a mounting hub for the wheel assembly; whereby the first and second tire locking tabs are operable for applying a compressive clamping force to the tire, to thereby help retain the positioning of the tire relative to the rim. 18. A wheel assembly comprising: a rim; first and second tire locking tabs; a tire having inner and outer surface portions, first and second internal chambers and first and second openings for receiving at least an end portion of the respective first and second tire locking tabs in the first and second internal chambers; wherein the tire includes free end portions, and wherein the first and second tire locking tabs retain the tire's free end portions to the rim. 19. The wheel assembly of claim 18, further comprising a protrusion extending circumferentially along the rim, and wherein the tire includes: a third internal chamber disposed generally between the first and second internal chambers, and complementary in shape to the protrusion for engagingly receiving the protrusion therein; and a third opening along the tire's inner surface portion for allowing the protrusion to be engagingly received within the third internal chamber, whereby the first and second tire locking tabs are operable for applying a compressive clamping force to the tire for urging corresponding portions of the tire towards the protrusion, to thereby help retain the positioning of the tire relative to the protrusion. 20. The wheel assembly of claim 17, wherein the arced portions of the first and second rim portions are each generally semi-circular such that each arced portion defines about half of the rim's circumference. 21. A wheel assembly comprising: first and second wheel pieces attachable to each other, the first and second wheel pieces including respective first and second rim portions, each of the first and second rim portions including an arced portion defining only a portion of a circumference of a rim such that the arced portions collectively define the circumference of the rim when the first and second wheel pieces are attached; at least one of the first and second wheel pieces including a mounting hub adapted to receive an axle for rotatably mounting the wheel assembly; wherein the first wheel piece includes the substantial entirety of the mounting hub. 22. The wheel assembly of claim 21, wherein the first and second wheel pieces including portions with corresponding fastener hole patterns such that when the portions are overlapped axially, at least one fastener hole of the first wheel piece aligns with at least one fastener hole of the second wheel piece for receiving at least one fastener for releasably attaching the axially-overlapping portions to each other. 23. The wheel assembly of claim 22, wherein the axially-overlapping portions include flange members adjacent the mounting hub. 24. The wheel assembly of claim 22, wherein the axially-overlapping portions include tab members adjacent the first and second rim portions. 25. The wheel assembly of claim 21, wherein the arced portions of the first and second rim portions are each generally semi-circular such that each arced portion defines about half of the rim's circumference. 26. A tire for a wheel assembly including a mounting hub, a rim, and a protrusion extending generally outwardly, circumferentially along at least a portion of the rim, the tire comprising: an outer surface portion; an inner surface portion; an internal chamber complementary in shape to the protrusion of the wheel assembly for engagingly receiving the protrusion therein; an opening along at least a portion of the tire's inner surface portion for allowing the protrusion to be engagingly received within the internal chamber; and free end portions; wherein the tire's inner surface portion includes an at least partially arcuate profile such that, when the tire is placed on a horizontal surface, a gap will be defined generally between the flat surface and the tire's inner surface portion at least along the centerline of the inner surface portion, whereby, when the tire is mounted onto the rim of the wheel assembly, the configuration of the tire's inner surface portion allows the tire to be retained against the wheel assembly's protrusion and edge portions of the rim such that the interface along the tire and the edge portions of the rim is substantially sealed, thereby inhibiting the ingress of foreign objects and debris along the substantially sealed interface into the area defined generally between the tire and the rim; whereby engagement of the protrusion within the internal chamber of the tire helps retain the positioning of the tire relative to the protrusion of the wheel assembly. 27. The tire of claim 26, wherein the internal chamber has a generally arrowhead shape. 28. The tire of claim 26, wherein the tire further includes: lateral internal chambers disposed such that the internal chamber is generally between the lateral internal chambers; and webbing separating the internal chamber from the internal lateral chambers. 29. The tire of claim 28, wherein the tire further includes an opening along the inner surface portion for receiving a tire locking tab in each lateral internal chamber. 30. The tire of claim 26, wherein the tire comprises extruded material. 31. The tire of claim 26, wherein the opening extends circumferentially along the substantial entirety of the inner surface portion of the tire. 32. The tire of claim 26, wherein the tire is configured such, when the tire is mounted onto the rim of the wheel assembly, the interface along the tire and the edge portions of the rim is substantially sealed thereby inhibiting the ingress of foreign objects and debris along the substantially sealed interface into the area defined generally between the tire and the rim. 33. A wheeled shovel comprising: a frame; a handle disposed at an upper end portion of the frame; a shovel blade disposed at a lower end portion of the frame; a wheel assembly coupled to the frame, the wheel assembly including a tire, first and second wheel pieces releasably attachable to each other, and a mounting hub adapted to receive an axle for rotatably mounting the wheel assembly; the first and second wheel pieces being slidably engagable in a first axial direction substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the wheel assembly, the first and second wheel pieces being slidably disengagable in a second axial direction generally opposite the first axial direction, the first and second wheel pieces including respective: first and second tire locking tabs; first and second rim portions including generally semi-circular arced portions each defining about half of a circumference of a rim such that the arced portions collectively define the circumference of the rim when the first and second wheel pieces are slidably engaged; first and second protrusions extending circumferentially along the respective first and second rim portions; portions with corresponding fastener hole patterns such that when the portions are overlapped axially, at least one fastener hole of the first wheel piece aligns with at least one fastener hole of the second wheel piece for receiving at least one fastener for releasably attaching the axially-overlapping portions to each other, the axially-overlapping portions including at least one of flange members adjacent the mounting hub or tab members adjacent the first and second rim portions; the tire including: an outer surface portion; an inner surface portion; an internal chamber complementary in shape to the first and second protrusions for engagingly receiving the first and second protrusions therein; and an opening along the tire's inner surface portion for allowing the first and second protrusions to be engagingly received within the internal chamber; first and second lateral internal chambers disposed such that the internal chamber is generally between the first and second lateral internal chambers; first and second openings along the tire's inner surface portion for receiving at least an end portion of the respective first and second tire locking tabs in the respective first and second lateral internal chambers; wherein the first tire locking tab is connected to the first wheel piece by a first living hinge integrally defined along a bottom portion of the first locking tab such that first tire locking tab is hingedly movable relative to the first wheel piece; and wherein the second tire locking tab is connected to the second wheel piece by a second living hinge integrally defined along a bottom portion of the second locking tab such that second tire locking tab is hingedly movable relative to the second wheel piece. 34. The wheel assembly of claim 33, wherein the first and second tire locking tabs are operable for applying a compressive clamping force to the tire for urging corresponding portions of the tire towards the first and second protrusions, to thereby help retain the positioning of the tire relative to the first and second protrusions. 35. The wheel assembly of claim 21, wherein: the first wheel piece includes a first tire locking tab; and the second wheel piece includes a second tire locking tab. 36. A wheel assembly comprising: first and second wheel pieces releasably attachable to each other, the first and second wheel pieces being slidably engagable in a first axial direction substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the wheel assembly, the first and second wheel pieces being slidably disengagable in a second axial direction generally opposite the first axial direction; the first and second wheel pieces including respective first and second locking tabs and respective first and second rim portions that cooperatively define a rim when the first and second wheel pieces are slidably engaged; wherein at least one of the first and second tire locking tabs is connected to the corresponding one of the first and second wheel pieces by a living hinge integrally defined along a bottom portion of the at least one of the first and second tire locking tabs, whereby the living hinge allows the at least one of the first and second tire locking tabs to hingedly move relative to the corresponding one of the first and second wheel pieces. 37. A wheel assembly comprising: first and second wheel pieces attachable to each other, the first and second wheel pieces including respective first and second locking tabs and respective first and second rim portions, each of the first and second rim portions including an arced portion defining only a portion of a circumference of a rim such that the arced portions collectively define the circumference of the rim when the first and second wheel pieces are attached; at least one of the first and second wheel pieces including a mounting hub adapted to receive an axle for rotatably mounting the wheel assembly; wherein at least one of the first and second tire locking tabs is connected to the corresponding one of the first and second wheel pieces by a living hinge integrally defined along a bottom portion of the at least one of the first and second tire locking tabs, whereby the living hinge allows the at least one of the first and second tire locking tabs to hingedly move relative to the corresponding one of the first and second wheel pieces. 38. A wheel assembly comprising: a rim: first and second tire locking tabs; a tire having inner and outer surface portions, first and second internal chambers and first and second openings for receiving at least an end portion of the respective first and second tire locking tabs in the first and second internal chambers; wherein at least one of the first and second tire locking tabs is connected to the rim by a living hinge integrally defined along a bottom portion of the at least one of the first and second tire locking tabs, whereby the living hinge allows the at least one of the first and second tire locking tabs to hingedly move relative to the rim.
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